Coventry Members Have Raised GBP5 Million for The Royal British Legion

COVENTRY, England, May 4, 2011 - Representatives of The Royal British Legion were
invited to Coventry Building Society's (
www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/homepage.aspx) Annual General
Meeting to receive a cheque for over GBP1.7 million. The innovative range of
Poppy Savings Accounts (
www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/savings-and-investments/home.aspx)
was first launched in 2008 and Coventry members have raised a staggering GBP5
million in total.

Over the past four years the Coventry's donation has helped to provide
funding for numerous projects including;

- Immediate Needs Grants programme - offers anyone who has been injured
during service with the Armed Forces grants to pay for adaptations or aids
needed for daily living.

- Poppy Breaks - The Legion have four Poppy Break Centres around the UK
for those who are recovering from an illness, bereavement or other life
affecting events.

- Poppy Calls - is offered to those who have served in the Armed Forces
and their widows or dependents. This scheme is designed to offer help with
awkward jobs such as minor repairs, or fitting essential devices such as
smoke detectors and care phones. In 2010 the Poppy Calls service helped more
than 13,000 people around the UK.

One such person who has benefited from the Immediate
Needs Grants programme is Lieutenant Corporal Peter Dunning, aged 26 from
Merseyside. Peter lost both his legs in an IED explosion in Helmand Province
in Afghanistan in May 2008. During his rehabilitation, The Royal British
Legion assisted Peter with adaptations needed for living in his parents' home
through the charity's Immediate Needs Grant programme. Peter said "It's great
to know the Legion is helping the Afghanistan generation of the Armed Forces
and the latest donation of GBP1.8 million from the Coventry Building Society
will make all the difference". Following his rehabilitation Peter has become
a keen skier. He is now a member of the British Disabled Ski Team and working
towards the Winter Paralympic Games in 2014.

The Royal British Legion's Director of National Events and Fundraising
Russell Thompson, said: "Coventry Building Society's support over the last 4
years had been tremendous. We are delighted to accept today's donation of
GBP1.8 million which will help pay for The Royal British Legion Battle Back
Centre, a sports and adventure training facility to rehabilitate seriously
injured Service personnel. The Legion has taken care of serving and
ex-Service people and their families for 90 years and our welfare support is
now more important than ever for the Afghanistan generation of the Armed
Forces family. With over 160,000 welfare cases a year, every single donation
helps the Legion carry out its invaluable work and stand shoulder to shoulder
with all who serve."

David Harding, Chairman of the Coventry said: " We are
delighted to have raised GBP5 million thanks to the support of our members
over the last 4 years. The excellent work of The Royal British Legion is
highly valued by our members and we are very proud to to be supporting The
Battle Back Centres and the invaluable work they do".

Please see notes to editors for further details of
Peter.

Notes to Editors

Coventry Building Society

- Coventry Building Society (
www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/homepage.aspx) is the third largest
building society in the UK with assets exceeding GBP22 billion.

Royal British Legion

- Registered charity number : 219279

- Further information about the Royal British Legion can be obtained from
visiting www.britishlegion.org.uk

Case Studies from The Royal British Legion

Peter Dunning, 26, Merseyside

Former L/Cpl Peter Dunning, 26, was serving in the Armoured Support
Group, Royal Marines when he lost both his legs in an IED explosion in
Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in May 2008.

During his rehabilitation, The Royal British Legion assisted Peter with
facilities and aids to daily living for his parents' home through the
charity's Immediate Needs Grants programme.

"I didn't know The Royal British Legion helped people like me. I thought
they were all about the older veterans and didn't realise that it helps those
still in Service. It's great to know the Legion is helping the Afghanistan
generation of the Armed Forces and the GBP1.8 million donation from Coventry
Building Society will make all the difference.

"The support that the Legion has offered me since my accident has been
great. They are helping me to live my life as best I can by making my
day-to-day living easier."

Following his rehabilitation, Peter took a life changing decision when he
agreed to go on skiing trip after which, he was offered a place on the
Combined Services Disabled Ski Team.

Since then, Peter's passion for skiing has grown and he is now a member
of the British Disabled Ski Team, with his sights set firmly on the Winter
Paralympic Games in 2014.

Peter lives in Wallasey, Merseyside and is engaged to fiancee Laura.

If you would like any photo's, please contact the press office on
+44-(0)870-607-7727 or email media@thecoventry.co.uk

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